Black law-enforcement group head raps Nassau DA Rice

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District Attorney Kathleen Rice, an all-but-declared candidate for state attorney general, comes under fire from Marquez Claxton, head of the organization Black Law Enforcement Alliance, who questions her abillity to administer justice "even-handedly." As Daily Politics' Celeste Katz describes here, Claxton cites irregularities in criminal cases from the late 1990's when Rice was a prosecutor in Brooklyn.

Eric Phillips, speaking for the Rice campaign, send along this comment:

"These allegations are obviously highly offensive distortions and complete misrepresentations of the DA's record. We are nearing the political season, so it's not particularly surprising that opponents who are clearly threatened by a tough, yet incredibly progressive prosecutor would attempt to distort her record.

"Her progressive and fair law enforcement policies have garnered her acclaim from civil rights, community and law enforcement groups, so there's no doubt that the DA was shocked at our potential opponents attempt to distort he record on this issue. Her record of experience, fairness and integrity are unrivaled in this field which means her opponents will be forced to distort her record, rather than focus on their own. "

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